Compassion Ministry

Riverview seeks to reach our community by both initiating compassion projects and participating in projects other groups have started. We primarily try to help in areas where there is currently a lack of Christian support and involvement. Our desire is to be a visible force in meeting the needs of both our church body and the greater Lansing area. As you'll see below, we currently have several ongoing projects, but we're always looking for people interested in helping start new ones. If you have an interest or an idea, please send us your thoughts at Compassion@RivChurch.com.

You can receive updates on Compassion Ministry projects and events by joining our Facebook group. Or sign-up for email updates by emailing Compassion@RivChurch.com. We look forward to serving with you!


Core Community Outreach Options for You, Your Family, or Your Life Group:

Lansing Area AIDS Network (Email Marcie.Beckwith@RivChurch.com for more info)

  • Serve as a driver for the LAAN food pantry (the second and fourth Thursday of every month from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm). Recipients ride the bus to the pantry, but often need a ride home. Drivers are reimbursed for mileage.

Shared Pregnancy (Email Tiffany.Doolittle@RivChurch.com for more info)

  • Volunteer to sort clothing donations. This is a great opportunity to spend time together as a group and pray over families who will receive the clothing.
  • Clean and organize their building. Shared Pregnancy is in the process of finding a new building, and needs groups to help clean and organize their cellar.
  • Help with construction and repair projects, which are always on the back burner at Shared Pregnancy. If you or your Life Group are a handy bunch, this may be the project for you.

Holt Food Bank (Email Jim.Nussdorfer@RivChurch.com for more info)

  • Work concessions at MSU Football games on behalf of Holt Food Bank.
  • Sort food (this opportunities is available from time to time).


Additional Suggestions for Community Outreach:

Ronald McDonald House:  Call Ruth at 517-485-9303 for more info
Ronald McDonald House needs volunteers to make dinners at their facility for the parents of sick children who stay there. Groups decide on a menu, bring the ingredients, and prepare the meal. This is a great opportunity to interact with parents using the facility.

Special Olympics:  Call Meridith at 517-755-5730 for more info.
Special Olympics hosts numerous local events throughout the year, and are always looking for people to help with registration, water stations, keeping score, and assisting coaches.

Habitat for Humanity:  Call Jinny at 517-374-1313, x21 for more info.
All volunteers will need to attend a one hour training in order to volunteer.  After training is completed Habitat will give you a schedule of their current projects.  If you have a large enough group you can request to have a specific date all to yourself.

Clothing Drive @ Riv

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 2, 2010

In today’s troublesome economy, everyday tasks and chores can seem overly stressful and demanding. From buying groceries to clothing our children, simple ideas have turned from a regular occurrence to a frustrating blend of time and money. Riverview and the Compassions ministry would like to help. 

Join us for our clothing drive as we strive to provide help for Riv Families in need. For three consecutive weekends, Riv and the Compassions team will be looking for help/taking donations for new or gently used children’s clothing. 

Want to help? Here’s how you can.

Donations-Please donate lightly worn children’s clothing ranging in sizes from 0 to 14-16.

Purchases-We are always in need of items that may not have been donated to the drive.

Time-Help assist us with the collection and sorting of any and all donations.

The drive will be held March 6th and 7th, 13th and 14th, and wrapping up the 20th and 21st. 

Need Help? There will be a sign up sheet at the table in the lobby for anyone who is interested in receiving clothing for their children.

If interested in serving or receiving, please contact Melissa.Adams@RivChurch.com.

Artistic Photographers Needed...

Posted on Friday, Feb 26, 2010

The Compassion Team is looking for one or more people who might be able to join us at some upcoming service events to take photos. Yes we can break out a camera ourselves, but would love to find someone who could take photos that are a little more artistic than those we already have. Email Compassion@RivChurch.com for more info.

Easter Food Distribution

Posted on Friday, Feb 26, 2010

We are in need of 6-8 adults to work the Holt Food Bank Easter meal distribution on March 27th from 2-4. Volunteers will be helping clients with their food pickup, restock tables, and misc other tasks. If you are interested in helping please contact Jim.Nussdorfer@RivChurch.com by Friday 03/12.

Saturdays at Holt Food Bank

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010

Have an open Saturday on your calendar?

Then come spend it at the Holt Food Bank lending a hand to families in need! Flexible times/no set schedule. Duties would include transferring food from the warehouse to the food bank and stocking shelves. We are looking for 2-6 adult volunteers every Saturday.

For more information or to sign up to help please email Jim.Nussdorfer@RivChurch.com.

help fill some suitcases....

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010

Next week we have a team leaving for Mexico and we would like to help them fill suitcases full of some items the orphanage has requested.

I would like to ask each of you to check out the following list and considering bringing one ore more of these things with you to Riv this weekend.a

All items can be left on the Compassion Project table in the lobby at Riv.

Personal care items:  shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, & body wash.

For the children's birthdays:  legos, digital watches for children-$10, wrapping paper, tape, gift bags, & tissue paper.

School supplies:  three ring binders, pencil pouches, pencil sharpeners & spiral notebooks

Compassion Team Meeting

Posted on Monday, Feb 22, 2010

Join us Thursday, March 4th @ 6:45pm in the Chapel @ Riv for our monthly meeting.

We will be sharing what is going on with Compassion @ Riv, what projects we have coming up, the various ways you can get plugged into our ministry and just have some time to get to know each other.

Not able to come right at 6:45? We are an ish group and this is an informal thing, so get there whenever you can. Child care an issue? Just bring the kidos. We don't mind what time you get here or who you bring, just join us when you can. 

Oh and if this month does not work, mark your calendar for future meetings. We will be doing it, same time same place, the first Thursday of every month.

The Riverview Meals Team Needs You!

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009

Serving the Riverview Church Body can be as simple as bringing a bag of bagels to church with you. In addition to providing groceries, meals and gift cards to members in need, many members sign up to bring in tasty treats for our Sunday volunteers. If you are interested in more information or would like to join this team, please email Meals@RivChurch.com .